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Can Milk Cause Gas? Understanding Lactose Intolerance and Dairy-Related Bloating

How does milk consumption affect digestion. What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance. Why do some people experience bloating after consuming dairy products. How can you manage dairy-related digestive issues. What are the alternatives to traditional dairy products for those with lactose intolerance.

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The Link Between Milk and Digestive Discomfort

Many people experience digestive issues after consuming dairy products, with gas and bloating being common complaints. The Mayo Clinic identifies milk and milk products as potential gas-producing foods that can lead to bloating. For some individuals, reducing or avoiding dairy intake may help alleviate these uncomfortable symptoms.

Karen Ansel, R.D.N., author of “Healthy in a Hurry: Simple, Wholesome Recipes for Every Meal of the Day,” explains, “Even though dairy is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, it can definitely cause gas and bloating for some people.” The primary reason behind this phenomenon is often lactose intolerance.

Understanding Lactose Intolerance: More Than Just a Milk “Allergy”

Lactose intolerance is frequently misunderstood as a milk allergy. However, it’s actually a deficiency of an enzyme called lactase, which is responsible for breaking down lactose, the sugar found in milk. Ansel clarifies, “As a result, lactose, the sugar in milk, travels intact throughout your digestive system, pulling water into your gut, causing gas, bloating, and lots of discomfort.”

It’s important to note that lactose intolerance can vary significantly from person to person, both in terms of severity and the specific dairy products that trigger symptoms. Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, points out, “Most people with lactose intolerance can still tolerate certain dairy products, like yogurt and hard cheeses, such as Parmesan and Swiss, which have a lower lactose content when compared with milk.”

The Science Behind Lactose Intolerance

To better understand lactose intolerance, it’s crucial to examine the digestive process. In individuals without lactose intolerance, the enzyme lactase breaks down lactose into simple sugars in the small intestine. These simple sugars are then absorbed into the bloodstream and converted into energy.

However, in those with lactose intolerance, the body doesn’t produce enough lactase to effectively break down lactose. As a result, undigested lactose remains in the gut, where it’s broken down by bacteria. This bacterial breakdown process leads to the production of gas, causing bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

Factors Contributing to Lactose Intolerance

Several factors can contribute to the development of lactose intolerance:

  • Age: While less common in children and teens, many people become lactose intolerant in adulthood.
  • Ethnic background: Individuals of Asian, African, Native American, and Hispanic descent are more likely to develop lactose intolerance at a younger age.
  • Digestive tract issues: Conditions such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease can lead to inflammation of the upper small intestine, reducing lactase production.
  • Medications: Certain antibiotics can trigger temporary lactose intolerance by affecting the intestine’s ability to produce lactase.
  • Infections: Digestive tract infections can sometimes result in lactose intolerance.

Identifying Lactose Intolerance: Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing the signs of lactose intolerance is crucial for proper management. Common symptoms include:

  1. Bloating
  2. Gas
  3. Stomach cramps
  4. Diarrhea
  5. Nausea

These symptoms typically occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming dairy products. The severity of symptoms can vary depending on the amount of lactose consumed and an individual’s tolerance level.

Is it possible to develop lactose intolerance later in life?

Yes, it is possible to develop lactose intolerance later in life. Ansel notes, “It’s not unusual for a person who was always able to drink milk to develop a little lactose intolerance as they get older.” This gradual onset of lactose intolerance is due to the natural decrease in lactase production that occurs with age in some individuals.

Managing Lactose Intolerance: Strategies and Solutions

While lactose intolerance can be uncomfortable, there are several strategies to manage symptoms and maintain a balanced diet:

  1. Gradual reduction: Instead of completely eliminating dairy, try reducing intake gradually to find your personal tolerance level.
  2. Lactase supplements: These over-the-counter enzymes can help break down lactose when taken with dairy products.
  3. Lactose-free alternatives: Many dairy products are available in lactose-free versions, allowing you to enjoy the taste and nutritional benefits without discomfort.
  4. Probiotics: Some studies suggest that certain probiotic strains may help improve lactose digestion.
  5. Consuming dairy with other foods: Eating dairy as part of a meal, rather than on its own, can sometimes reduce symptoms.

Should you completely eliminate dairy from your diet if you suspect lactose intolerance?

Experts advise against completely eliminating dairy from your diet, even if you suspect lactose intolerance. Ansel explains, “Totally scrapping dairy from your diet can make lactose intolerance worse because your body produces digestive enzymes to break down the foods that they are used to digesting on a regular basis.” In other words, if you stop exposing your gut to lactose entirely, it will produce even less lactase, potentially exacerbating your intolerance.

The Importance of Dairy in a Balanced Diet

Dairy products are a significant source of essential nutrients, including:

  • Calcium
  • Vitamin D
  • Protein
  • Potassium
  • Vitamin B12

Completely eliminating dairy from your diet without proper substitution can lead to nutritional deficiencies. It’s essential to work with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian to ensure you’re meeting your nutritional needs if you need to limit or avoid dairy products.

Are there non-dairy sources of calcium and other nutrients typically found in dairy products?

Yes, there are several non-dairy sources of calcium and other nutrients commonly found in dairy products. These include:

  • Leafy green vegetables (e.g., kale, spinach, collard greens)
  • Fortified plant-based milk alternatives (e.g., almond milk, soy milk)
  • Nuts and seeds (especially almonds and sesame seeds)
  • Canned fish with soft bones (e.g., sardines, salmon)
  • Fortified orange juice
  • Tofu processed with calcium sulfate

Diagnosing Lactose Intolerance: Methods and Considerations

If you suspect you may be lactose intolerant, there are several diagnostic methods available:

  1. Hydrogen breath test: This non-invasive test measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath after consuming lactose.
  2. Lactose tolerance test: This blood test measures your body’s reaction to consuming a liquid containing high levels of lactose.
  3. Stool acidity test: Primarily used for infants and children, this test checks the acidity of stool samples.
  4. Genetic testing: While not commonly used, genetic tests can identify mutations associated with lactose intolerance.

However, one of the most effective and accessible methods for identifying lactose intolerance is the elimination diet. Rumsey recommends cutting back on dairy for one to two weeks and observing if bloating and other symptoms subside. If symptoms improve, you can gradually reintroduce small amounts of dairy, starting with low-lactose products like yogurt and hard cheese, to determine your personal tolerance threshold.

How long does it typically take for symptoms to improve after reducing dairy intake?

The time it takes for symptoms to improve after reducing dairy intake can vary from person to person. Generally, many individuals notice an improvement in their symptoms within a few days to a week after eliminating or significantly reducing dairy consumption. However, it’s important to maintain the dairy-free or reduced-dairy diet for at least two weeks to accurately assess the impact on your symptoms.

Lactose-Free Alternatives: Navigating the World of Dairy Substitutes

For those who need to avoid or limit dairy, there are numerous lactose-free alternatives available:

  • Plant-based milk: Options include almond, soy, oat, coconut, and rice milk.
  • Non-dairy yogurt: Made from soy, coconut, or almond bases.
  • Vegan cheese: Often made from nuts, soy, or vegetable oils.
  • Lactose-free ice cream: Available in both dairy and non-dairy versions.
  • Lactose-free butter and margarine

When choosing dairy alternatives, it’s important to check the nutritional content, as not all substitutes provide the same nutrients as traditional dairy products. Look for fortified options to ensure you’re getting adequate calcium, vitamin D, and other essential nutrients.

Do lactose-free dairy products taste different from regular dairy products?

Lactose-free dairy products are designed to closely mimic the taste and texture of regular dairy products. The lactose in these products is broken down into simpler sugars, which can sometimes result in a slightly sweeter taste compared to regular dairy. However, many people find the difference minimal, and some cannot detect any difference at all. The taste experience can vary depending on the specific product and individual preferences.

The Role of Probiotics in Managing Lactose Intolerance

Probiotics, beneficial bacteria that support digestive health, may play a role in managing lactose intolerance. Some studies suggest that certain probiotic strains can help improve lactose digestion and reduce symptoms of intolerance. Probiotics may work by:

  • Producing lactase enzymes
  • Reducing inflammation in the gut
  • Altering the gut microbiome to better handle lactose

While research in this area is ongoing, incorporating probiotic-rich foods or supplements into your diet may be beneficial. Probiotic-rich foods include:

  1. Yogurt with live active cultures
  2. Kefir
  3. Sauerkraut
  4. Kimchi
  5. Kombucha

Can probiotics cure lactose intolerance?

While probiotics cannot cure lactose intolerance, they may help alleviate symptoms and improve lactose digestion in some individuals. The effectiveness of probiotics can vary from person to person, and more research is needed to fully understand their impact on lactose intolerance. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any probiotic regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions.

Lactose Intolerance in Children: Special Considerations

While lactose intolerance is less common in children, it can still occur. Parents should be aware of the following:

  • Symptoms may be similar to those in adults but can be more challenging to identify in young children.
  • Proper diagnosis is crucial, as symptoms can mimic other digestive issues.
  • Nutritional needs are particularly important for growing children, so any dietary changes should be made under professional guidance.
  • Some children may outgrow lactose intolerance, while others may develop it later in childhood or adolescence.

If you suspect your child may be lactose intolerant, it’s essential to consult with a pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist for proper evaluation and management.

How can parents ensure their lactose-intolerant children receive adequate nutrition?

Parents can ensure their lactose-intolerant children receive adequate nutrition by:

  1. Working with a pediatric dietitian to develop a balanced, dairy-free meal plan
  2. Incorporating calcium-rich non-dairy foods into their child’s diet
  3. Choosing fortified dairy alternatives when appropriate
  4. Considering calcium and vitamin D supplements if recommended by a healthcare provider
  5. Encouraging a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins

The Future of Lactose Intolerance Management: Emerging Research and Treatments

As our understanding of lactose intolerance grows, new management strategies and treatments are being explored. Some areas of ongoing research include:

  • Gene therapy to restore lactase production
  • Development of more effective lactase supplements
  • Personalized nutrition approaches based on genetic testing
  • Microbiome manipulation to improve lactose tolerance
  • Novel dairy processing techniques to reduce lactose content while maintaining nutritional value

While these potential advancements are promising, it’s important to remember that current management strategies, when properly implemented, can effectively control symptoms for most individuals with lactose intolerance.

Are there any potential breakthrough treatments for lactose intolerance on the horizon?

While there are no immediate breakthrough treatments available, researchers are exploring several promising avenues. These include targeted probiotic therapies, enzyme replacement techniques, and even the possibility of using CRISPR gene-editing technology to address the genetic components of lactose intolerance. However, these potential treatments are still in the early stages of research and development, and it may be several years before they become available for widespread use.

Living with Lactose Intolerance: Practical Tips for Daily Life

Managing lactose intolerance doesn’t have to be a constant struggle. Here are some practical tips for navigating daily life:

  1. Read food labels carefully, as lactose can be present in unexpected products.
  2. Carry lactase enzyme supplements for situations where you may encounter dairy unexpectedly.
  3. Experiment with different dairy products to find your personal tolerance level.
  4. Plan ahead when dining out by checking menus or calling restaurants in advance.
  5. Educate friends and family about your dietary needs to make social situations easier.
  6. Stay informed about new lactose-free products and alternatives entering the market.

Remember, living with lactose intolerance is about finding a balance that works for you. With the right strategies and support, you can maintain a healthy, enjoyable diet while managing your symptoms effectively.

How can individuals with lactose intolerance navigate social situations involving food?

Navigating social situations with lactose intolerance can be managed by:

  • Communicating your dietary needs to hosts or restaurants in advance
  • Offering to bring a lactose-free dish to share at gatherings
  • Eating a small meal before events where dairy-free options may be limited
  • Carrying lactase enzyme supplements for unexpected dairy encounters
  • Focusing on non-food aspects of social events to reduce anxiety about dietary restrictions

By being prepared and proactive, individuals with lactose intolerance can confidently participate in social events without compromising their dietary needs or enjoyment.

How To Handle Bloating After Eating Dairy

It’s a fact of life: bloating happens, and sometimes for seemingly no reason. Even if you usually eat a healthy diet, you may suddenly have to deal with a puffy stomach. If you regularly deal with bloating, it’s understandable that you’d want to figure out the culinary culprit.

Some people cut out dairy, and this move can make sense. The Mayo Clinic lists milk and milk products as one of several gas-producing foods that can lead to bloating, noting that avoiding or reducing your intake of it may help decrease that puffed up feeling.

“Even though dairy is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, it can definitely cause gas and bloating for some people,” Karen Ansel, R.D.N., author of Healthy in a Hurry: Simple, Wholesome Recipes for Every Meal of the Day, tells SELF. The main reason why many people bloat up after eating dairy is lactose intolerance, she says.

People frequently assume this is a milk “allergy,” but it’s really a deficiency of an enzyme, called lactase, that breaks down the sugar in milk, Ansel explains. “As a result, lactose, the sugar in milk, travels intact throughout your digestive system, pulling water into your gut, causing gas, bloating, and lots of discomfort,” she says.

But a lactose intolerance can vary wildly from person to person, as can which foods cause issues for them, Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells SELF. “Most people with lactose intolerance can still tolerate certain dairy products, like yogurt and hard cheeses, like Parmesan and Swiss, which have a lower lactose content when compared with milk,” she says. “Many people can also have small servings of dairy at a time (like 2 to 4 ounces) without issue.”

However, some people can be incredibly sensitive to dairy, Ansel says, adding that it tends to get worse as people age. “It’s not unusual for a person who was always able to drink milk to develop a little lactose intolerance as they get older,” she says.

But none of this means you should immediately swear off dairy. “In fact, totally scrapping dairy from your diet can make lactose intolerance worse because your body produces digestive enzymes to break down the foods that they are used to digesting on a regular basis,” Ansel says. Basically, if you stop exposing your gut to lactose, it’s going to make less and less lactase. Then, if you do drink milk or have dairy products, it’s going to be very uncomfortable. Also, since dairy is a major food group, cutting it out entirely means you’d lower your intake of several important nutrients, like calcium.

The best way to determine if dairy is causing your bloating is to play human guinea pig. Rumsey recommends cutting way back on dairy for a week or two and seeing if your bloating goes away. If it does, you can slowly start to add some small amounts of dairy back into your diet, starting with low-lactose products, like yogurt and hard cheese. If your symptoms return, you know your threshold for dairy.

Lactose Intolerance (for Parents) – Nemours KidsHealth

What Is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is when someone has trouble digesting lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy foods.

If people with lactose intolerance eat dairy products, the lactose passes into their intestines, leading to gas, cramps, a bloated feeling, and diarrhea.

Some people can have small amounts of dairy without problems. Others have a lot of stomach trouble and need to avoid all dairy products. Many foods, drinks, and digestive aids are available to help manage lactose intolerance.

What Happens in Lactose Intolerance?

Normally, when we eat something with lactose, an enzyme in the small intestine called lactase breaks it down into simple sugars. The bloodstream absorbs these simple sugars, which are turned into energy.

In lactose intolerance, the body doesn’t make enough lactase to break down lactose. Instead, undigested lactose sits in the gut and gets broken down by bacteria, causing gas, bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

Lactose intolerance is fairly common. Kids and teens are less likely to have it, but many people become lactose intolerant in adulthood. Some health care providers view lactose intolerance as a normal human condition and not a disease or serious health problem.

Besides age, people can become lactose intolerant due to:

  • Ethnic background. People of Asian, African, Native American, and Hispanic backgrounds are more likely to develop lactose intolerance at a young age.
  • Other problems with the digestive tract. People who have inflammation of their upper small intestine, such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, have less of the lactase enzyme.
  • Medicines. Some antibiotics can trigger temporary lactose intolerance by affecting how the intestine makes lactase.
  • Infection. After having diarrhea, some people have a temporary lactose intolerance that usually gets better after a few days or weeks.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerance can cause a variety of symptoms. It all depends on how much dairy or milk-containing foods people consume and how little lactase their body makes.

Usually within 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating, someone with lactose intolerance will have:

  • nausea
  • stomach cramps
  • bloating
  • gas
  • diarrhea

How Is Lactose Intolerance Diagnosed?

To diagnose lactose intolerance, doctors ask about a child’s symptoms and diet. They might test the breath for hydrogen levels before and after the child drinks lactose. Normally very little hydrogen gas is detectable in the breath. But undigested lactose in the colon breaks down and makes various gases, including hydrogen.

If your child has a hydrogen breath test, they’ll blow into a tube for a beginning sample. Then they’ll swallow a drink with lactose in it, wait a while, and breathe into the tube again. Your child will blow into the tube every half hour for 2 hours to measure hydrogen levels. The levels should go up over time if your child has lactose intolerance.

Doctors also can find out if someone can digest lactose by testing for the presence of lactase with an endoscopy. During this procedure, doctors view the inside of the intestines by inserting a long tube with a light and a tiny camera on the end into the mouth.

A doctor can then take tissue samples and pictures of the inside of the gut. The amount of lactase enzyme can be measured in one of these tissue samples.

How Is Lactose Intolerance Treated?

Kids and teens can manage lactose intolerance by not drinking less milk and eating fewer dairy products. Most can eat a small amount of dairy. But they need to eat it with other foods that don’t contain lactose and not eat too much dairy at once. For example, instead of drinking a milkshake by itself, your child should drink it while eating a dairy-free sandwich.

Other dairy products, such as yogurt and cheeses, can be easier to digest than milk. Lactose-free milk is also a great way to get calcium in the diet without the problems. It can also help for kids and teens to keep a food diary to learn which foods they can or can’t tolerate.

A lactase enzyme supplement can help too. Taking this before eating foods that contain dairy helps the body digest the lactose sugar in dairy. This can prevent pain, cramping, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

This One Food To Drastically Reduce Gas and Bloating

When I finally stopped eating this one type of food, my digestion drastically changed for the better

For most of my life, I just thought I had a sensitive stomach. I would feel bloated and gassy a few times a week, and the discomfort didn’t seem to have one specific trigger. This pattern went on for so long that I simply taught myself to live with it, and would occasionally tell people, “sorry, I have sensitive digestion.”

Employing solutions like curling up in fetal position to release gas (only when I was alone, of course!) and keeping Gas-X in my purse for when I needed it definitely helped (In fact, Gas-X was a real lifesaver — Extra Strength Chewables the not only provided fast relief, but they have a nongritty texture that makes taking them easy), but I was still dealing with gas and bloating after meals.

After talking it over with my doctor, we decided I should try eliminating certain foods from my diet for a few months to see if it made any kind of difference. At first, I was devastated at the idea of giving up things like bread and cheese — I’m Italian after all — but I was so fed up with my digestion issues that I was ready to try anything.

First, I gave up gluten. It was difficult at the beginning (read: no more sourdough bread at dinner), but I got used to it over time. The only issue: I still had gas and bloating!

I gave up soy next. This was easier, but still, the gas and bloating remained.

Then, I gave up dairy.

I have always been a cheese fanatic. Growing up, I could eat a quarter block of hard cheddar cheese in one sitting. I put it on everything, including vegetables. Ice cream was another favorite of mine, and even though I wasn’t a huge milk drinker, stirring cream into my coffee was a staple in my morning routine.

But as soon as I stopped consuming dairy, my occasional gas and bloating after meals started to dissipate. I didn’t want to believe it at first. I ate dairy all throughout my childhood and never seemed to have any issues, so why was this happening now? It turns out, you can grow into a lactose intolerance (which is a condition where the body can no longer properly break down milk lactose), and certain people can even get by with eating a little bit of dairy without having symptoms. Because lactose intolerance can be mild in some people and much more intense in others, my doctor and I deduced that my occasional gas and bloating was probably due to a more mild case.

Once I realized what living life without bloating was like, it was pretty easy to say goodbye to my cheese habit. These days, I try to keep my dairy consumption to a minimum (although the occasional pizza night still happens), and whenever I feel that familiar rumbling, I no longer get frustrated. I just take my trusty Gas-X and make a note of what I ate so I can make sure to either avoid the food next time, or at least eat much less of it.

Is my diet perfect? No way! But figuring out one of my main gas and bloating triggers helped me feel more empowered — and much more comfortable in my jeans.

Intestinal Gas from Complex Carbohydrates or Lactose Intolerance

Could your intestinal gas and bloating be a result of Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance or Lactose Intolerance?

As more and more people are realizing the importance of healthy eating, many of us have discovered that some of the same foods that are so good for us can often cause gas, bloating, and considerable discomfort.

Complex Carbohydrates

When bloating and discomfort happens because of eating vegetables, legumes, grains, cereals, nuts, and seeds – which contain complex carbohydrates – we call this condition Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance (CCI).

CCI occurs because we lack the enzyme necessary to digest complex carbohydrates. There is little gas production in the small intestine because the bacterial concentration is low. When the undigested carbohydrates reach the colon, the bacteria that normally live in the colon ferment them. This fermentation often results in the production of gas – similar to the production of bubbles in the fermenting of grapes into champagne. The buildup of gas in the colon results in discomfort, bloating, and sometimes pain.

Many people do not know what Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance is and therefore do not know how to treat it effectively. Fortunately, there is a product that can help prevent the symptoms of CCI by providing the missing enzyme needed to fully digest foods containing complex carbohydrates. The missing enzyme is contained in a natural-sourced product called Beano™.

Beano™ contains an enzyme that works with your body’s digestion. It breaks down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars that your body can easily digest. This helps ward off discomfort.

It is important that you take Beano™ with your first mouthful of gas producing food. Follow the instructions on the label, but keep in mind that the more gas producing foods you eat, the more Beano™ you will need. Beano™ is available in both tablets and drops.

Beano™ is a safe, natural-sourced product that contains the enzyme called alpha-galactosidase. This enzyme is made from a food-grade mold. (Don’t worry – molds are often used in many prepared foods such as jams and jellies). However, if you use Beano and experience an allergic-type symptom, you should discontinue its use.

You should consult your physician before using Beano if you suffer from galactosemia (a rare carbohydrate metabolism disorder detected at birth).

The use of Beano will produce an additional 2 to 6 grams of carbohydrate for every 100 grams of treated food. For diabetics, this means that each serving of Beano itself contributes an extremely small number of calories (less that 5) to your diet and would be expected to have an insignificant effect on your blood glucose. However, if you still have any concerns, you should speak to your physician.

There is no scientific information to suggest that if you are allergic to penicillin, that you would have an allergy to Beano. The major cause of penicillin allergy appears to be penicillin itself and not any penicillin mold-derived allergens. Therefore, it is safe to take Beano if you are allergic to penicillin.

In addition, certain medical conditions make it difficult to digest complex carbohydrates. These include celiac disease, pancreatitis, and short-bowel syndrome. These diseases can cause more undigested carbohydrates to move into the large intestine. Again, fermentation occurs and results in gas.

Dairy

The fermentation of dairy products in our intestines can also lead to gas symptoms. Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose – the sugar found in dairy foods. This is caused by a deficiency of the natural enzyme called lactase (say LACK-tays), which breaks down the milk sugar to make it digestible. Left undigested, the milk sugar lactose (say LACK-toes) can lead to the production of gas, bloating, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. The product Lactaid® can relieve this gas if taken with the first mouthful or sip of dairy products. Lactaid Milk® is a ready-to-use milk that offers all the health benefits of fat-free, 1% or 2% milk, but reduces the lactose content so that it can be enjoyed by people who are lactose intolerant.

About 20% of individuals of European descent have a lactase deficiency, and it is more common in those of African, Asian, and Mediterranean descent.

More About Gas

Whether we burp or “pass wind” (flatulence), everybody gets gas. Some people think that their digestive tract is malfunctioning because they experience what they believe to be excessive amounts of gas. To some, gas is often seen as funny and the subject of many jokes. You may be one of the many people who find that gas causes pain, discomfort, bloating, and embarrassing moments. Although some fear a serious ailment is present, fortunately, this is rarely the case. It is important to know that gas in itself is not dangerous. However, its consequences may have social implications due to our inability to control its passage.

Intestinal gas can be extremely painful. The abdomen often becomes distended, especially right after eating. Sometimes bloating can be so severe that clothing becomes tight, and may no longer fit. Because of its severity, sufferers can be overly concerned regarding its seriousness. The good news is that in most cases, gas is easily treated.

If neither complex carbohydrates nor dairy products are the source of your gas, it could be from swallowed air. When we swallow air, it passes through our digestive system. Usually, we release this air naturally in small amounts throughout the day. Some of us, however, may be prone to swallowing excessive amounts of air, which builds up in our intestines, causing gas. We seem to take in more air when we are under stress or when we swallow frequently, for example from wearing ill-fitting dentures, drinking through a straw, or from smoking cigars. Each swallow brings a small amount of air into our stomach and the volume gradually increases – causing burping, bloating, and discomfort.

For some of us, swallowed air becomes a problem because our intestines may move food through slower than normal. This can cause the air to build up and move backward into the stomach. As the air builds up, it can cause burping, bloating, discomfort and even pain. In women, an increase in the hormone progesterone can slow the intestines and cause gas. This hormone increase can occur during pregnancy, before menstruation, or during menopause if you are using progesterone to treat the symptoms.

Is Your Gas Meter Running A Little Too High?

To select the appropriate treatment, it is important to know the cause

Symptoms
Cause
Treatment
Mechanism Of Action
Flatulence
Bloating
Distention
Pain in the lower abdomen
Gas from eating complex carbohydrates (vegetables, legumes, grains, etc. )Beano™
(alpha-galactosidase enzyme)
taken with gas producing food
Prevents gas by breaking down complex carbohydrates in vegetables, legumes, grains, etc. into absorbable sugars. Indigestible sugars are kept out of the colon preventing their fermentation by bacteria.
Belching
Bloating & Distention
Pain in the stomach & lower abdomen
Flatulence
Gas from swallowed air and motility disordersPhazyme™
(simethicone)
taken after meals
Relieves gas symptoms by breaking down gas bubbles in the stomach and intestine so that they can be expelled naturally from the body.
Bloating
Flatulence
Diarrhea
Pain in the lower abdomen
Gas from eating dairy foodsLactaid™ 
Lactose enzyme taken with dairy foods
Prevents gas by breaking down indigestible lactose into absorbable sugars. Indigestible sugars are kept out of the colon preventing their fermentation by bacteria.

How can I know the source of my gas?

Simply put, if your stomach feels bloated or overfull, or if you are burping or feel a need to burp, this gas is likely caused by swallowed air. If you feel the need to flatulate (pass wind), along with hearing rumbling in your abdomen, feeling bloated, and experiencing discomfort in your lower abdomen, you probably have the type of gas usually caused by the fermentation of the kinds of foods mentioned above.

All people have gas in the intestinal tract, although proportions vary from person to person. Studies on young adults have shown that the average person generates 1 to 3 pints of gas a day. This gas comes from two sources: exogenous or ingested (swallowed) air, and endogenous gas, produced by colonic bacteria. Studies have shown that intestinal gas is composed of various amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane. Oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide come from swallowed air while hydrogen and methane are produced in the colon by bacteria acting on food residue. Careful analysis of intestinal gas has shown that about ninety percent is ingested air and only ten percent is actually formed in the intestine.

Although less than one percent of gas is odorous, intestinal bacteria produce several sulphur-containing compounds that are the primary odour culprits. The human nose can detect hydrogen sulphide in concentrations as low as one-half part per billion!

What do I do if I want to treat gas that Beano and Lactaid don’t prevent?

If you have not been able to prevent gas either entering, or forming, in your intestines, you can treat your gas symptoms when they happen by using a product like simethicone (Phazyme™). Simethicone is an effective medication for treating gas symptoms when they occur. It breaks down the gas trapped in your stomach and allows it to be released. It is a product with no known side effects.

Can I treat my gas with antacids?

Antacids contain ingredients such as magnesium, aluminum, or sodium bicarbonate compounds. These ingredients are only effective in neutralizing acid in your stomach. They are of no use in preventing or treating gas.

What should I do if I continue to have bloating, distention, and gas pains?

Gas in itself is not a serious problem. However, if you are concerned, or your symptoms persist, talk to your doctor. Only your doctor will be able to make a correct diagnosis.


First published in the

Inside Tract® newsletter issue 123 – January/February 2001

For more information about Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance, call the makers of Beano™ toll-free in Canada at 1-800-250-8866 and a nurse will be happy to answer your questions.

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Top Gas-Producing Foods | Everyday Health

No one is immune to bouts of gas, but if you experience more than your share of gas and bloating, you know the discomfort this can bring. Although everyone’s body reacts differently to different foods, there are certain gas-producing foods that can cause more trouble than others. How and when you eat can also play a role in excessive gas. Making some adjustments to your diet can help ease these digestive issues.

Where Does Gas Come From?

Gas, also known as flatulence or belching, may be caused by air that you swallow while eating, particularly if you’re rushing. Gas can also result when bacteria break down undigested food in the large intestine. For instance, the stomach and small intestine don’t fully digest fiber as well as the carbohydrates found in many foods.

“Not all carbohydrates are easy to digest,” explains dietitian Angela Lemond, RDN, CSP, LD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who has expertise in gastrointestinal nutrition. “Fruits and vegetables are big offenders, especially those in raw form because the body has to work hard to digest these plant-based foods. It’s also very dependent on the individual.”

Why Some People Have More Gas Than Others

Gas-producing foods affect different people in different ways. How your body reacts to food depends on how well you digest carbohydrates and what type of bacteria is in your intestines. The efficiency of your digestive tract also plays a role in how well you’re able to move and expel gas.

An analysis of 68 studies and six review articles on the gastrointestinal effects of low-digestible carbohydrates such as fiber, resistant starch, and sugar alcohols, published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition in 2009, found that for many people these carbohydrates can lead to gastrointestinal issues, like excessive gas, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea, particularly when consumed in large amounts.

Among the top gas-producing foods are beans and other legumes as well as cruciferous vegetables, such as:

  • Cabbages
  • Turnips
  • Kale
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Arugula
  • Cauliflower

Other high-fiber foods, like whole grains, may also cause gas or bloating, particularly if you’ve recently increased your fiber intake. The body tends to acclimate to a high-fiber diet over time, Lemond says. “Increased or excessive gas usually gets better,” she says.

Lactose, or milk sugar, may also cause gas in some people. If you have trouble digesting milk or dairy products like ice cream and cheese, your body may not be making enough of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down the lactose in dairy foods.

Common sweeteners, such as fructose, may also be to blame for excessive gas. The small intestine can only absorb a limited amount of fructose daily. When bacteria break down undigested sweeteners in the colon, gas can result. Many fruit beverages, including pear and apple juice, contain fructose. Sodas and some other sugary beverages with high-fructose corn syrup can be culprits of gas as well.

Lemond says that anyone concerned about excessive gas should be mindful of the sweeteners added to sugar-free candy, gum, and some packaged foods, such as cereal and granola bars. “On top of the added fiber, some granola bars also contain sugar alcohols known to cause intestinal gas,” she says. Look for sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol — all sugar alcohols — among the ingredients on nutrition labels. Her advice: Avoid all sugars that end in the letters “ol.”

Steps to Reduce Excessive Gas

First, determine what’s causing your digestive discomfort. To do that, Lemond suggests keeping a diary of what you eat and drink. Also record how often you burp, pass gas, or experience other uncomfortable symptoms, like bloating. By tracking your symptoms in a food diary, along with what and when you’re eating, you may be able to pinpoint what’s causing you to develop gas.

Other ways to find gas relief include:

Trial and error. Try experimenting with your diet. Temporarily cutting back on certain foods and then reintroducing them can help isolate gas-producing foods, Lemond says. Once your dietary culprits are found, however, you don’t have to give them up entirely. “Try eating smaller portions of foods that usually cause you gas,” she says. “Also avoid pairing two or more big offenders in one meal.”

Even people diagnosed with a food intolerance can modify their diet to ease their symptoms. “Lactose intolerance is a common digestive issue,” Lemond says. “That doesn’t mean you have to cut out all dairy. Yogurt is usually okay. Lactose-free milk and low-lactose cheeses are also available.”

Slow down. When trying to reduce gas, it’s also important to consider how you eat. “Eating too fast, not chewing well, and gulping air are going to cause more gas,” she says. “You need to appreciate the enzymes in your mouth that help break down food. If you eat too quickly, you’re not allowing your mouth to start the digestive process.”

Eat regularly. Timing is also important when trying to ease gas and bloating. “Many people wait too long to eat, then eat very large portions,” Lemond says. “This can cause gas or even diarrhea because there’s just too much stress on the stomach.”

Avoid icy, hot, and fizzy drinks. “Cold or hot liquids and carbonated drinks can also trigger gas or bloating,” she says. If you feel the need to drink a beverage while eating, opt for water at room temperature.

Reduce fat intake. Limiting high-fat foods can help reduce gas and bloating. Cut back on fat in your diet to help your stomach empty faster. This will allow gases to move more quickly into your small intestine. “Fat slows the functioning of your intestines, so if you don’t process gas very well, fatty foods could make that worse,” says Lena Palmer, MD, a gastroenterologist, assistant professor in the department of medicine, and medical director of nutritional services at Loyola University Chicago.

When to Talk to Your Doctor About Gas

When gas is accompanied by other symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, or weight loss, it’s time to talk to your doctor, Dr. Palmer says. You should also see your doctor if your symptoms are troublesome or suddenly change.

Intolerances to certain foods may cause gastrointestinal distress, but Lemond says it’s not a good idea to restrict your diet without guidance from your doctor first. “It’s concerning when people start pulling certain foods or food groups out of their diet and trying to self-diagnose or self-treat,” she says. “This can have a nutritional impact.” If excessive gas is a real problem for you, consider seeing a doctor who specializes in digestive health (a gastroenterologist) to get to the bottom of it and find ways to reduce gas and discomfort.

Lactose intolerance – Illnesses & conditions

There’s no cure for lactose intolerance, but most people are able to control their symptoms by making changes to their diet.

Some cases of lactose intolerance, such as those caused by gastroenteritis, are only temporary and will improve within a few days or weeks. Other cases, such as those caused by an inherited genetic fault or a long-term underlying condition, are likely to be lifelong.

Changing your diet

In most cases, cutting down on or avoiding sources of lactose and replacing them with lactose-free alternatives is enough to control the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

The exact changes you need to make to your diet depend on how sensitive you are to lactose. Some people are able to tolerate some lactose in their diet without any problems, whereas others experience symptoms after consuming food containing only a tiny amount of lactose.

If you decide to experiment with what you can and can’t eat, make sure to introduce new foods gradually, rather than all at once. This will help you to get used to any foods you might be sensitive to and identify any that cause problems.

Eating fewer products containing lactose, or avoiding them completely, can mean you miss out on certain vitamins and minerals in your diet and increase your risk of complications. You’ll also need to make sure you’re getting enough nutrition from either lacto-free foods or dietary supplements.

If you or your child are extremely sensitive to lactose, talk to your GP about your diet.

Milk products are rich in calcium needed for healthy bones so you may need to have regular bone density checks.

You may be referred to a dietitian (an expert in diet and nutrition) who can advise about what foods should be included in your, or your child’s, diet.

Sources of lactose

Some of the main sources of lactose you may need to cut down on or avoid if you’re lactose intolerant are described below.

Milk

A major source of lactose is milk, including cow’s milk, goat’s milk and sheep’s milk. Depending on how mild or severe your lactose intolerance is, you may need to change the amount of milk in your diet.

For example:

  • you may be able to have milk in your tea or coffee, but not on your cereal
  • some products containing milk, such as milk chocolate, may still be acceptable in small quantities
  • you may find that drinking milk as part of a meal, rather than on its own, improves how the lactose is absorbed

If even a small amount of milk triggers your symptoms, there are some alternatives you can try, such as soya or rice milk (see below).

Dairy products

Other dairy products made from milk, such as butter, ice cream and cheese, can also contain high levels of lactose and may need to be avoided if you’re lactose intolerant.

Some dairy products however, such as hard cheese and yoghurt, contain lower levels of lactose than milk and other products, so you may still be able to have them.

It’s worth experimenting with different foods to find out if there are any dairy products you can eat because they’re a good source of essential nutrients such as calcium.

Other foods and drinks

As well as milk and dairy products, there are other foods and drinks that can sometimes contain lactose.

These include:

  • salad cream, salad dressing and mayonnaise
  • biscuits
  • chocolate
  • boiled sweets
  • cakes
  • some types of bread and other baked goods
  • some breakfast cereals
  • packets of mixes to make pancakes and biscuits
  • packets of instant potatoes and instant soup
  • some processed meats, such as sliced ham

Check the ingredients of all food and drink products carefully, because milk or lactose are often hidden ingredients.

The lactose found in some foods won’t necessarily be listed separately on the food label, so you need to check the ingredients list for milk, whey, curds and milk products such as cheese, butter and cream.

Some ingredients may sound like they contain lactose when they don’t, such as lactic acid, sodium lactate and cocoa butter. These ingredients don’t need to be avoided if you’re lactose intolerant.

Medication

Some prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and complementary medicines may contain a small amount of lactose. While this isn’t usually enough to trigger the symptoms of lactose intolerance in most people, it may cause problems if your intolerance is severe or you’re taking several different medicines.

If you need to start taking a new medication, check with your GP or pharmacist in case it contains lactose.

Lactose-free foods and drinks

There are a number of alternative foods and drinks available in supermarkets to replace the milk and dairy products you need to avoid.

Food and drinks that don’t usually contain lactose include:

  • soya milks, yoghurts and some cheeses
  • milks made from rice, oats, almonds, hazelnuts, coconut, quinoa, and potato
  • foods which carry the ‘dairy-free’ or ‘suitable for vegans’ signs
  • carob bars

You can also buy cow’s milk containing additional lactase (the enzyme used to digest lactose). This means you still get the nutritional benefits of the milk, but you’re less likely to experience any symptoms after consuming it.

Getting enough calcium

If you’re unable to eat most dairy products, you may not be getting enough calcium in your daily diet. Calcium has several important functions, including:

  • helping build strong bones and teeth
  • regulating muscle contractions (including heartbeat)
  • ensuring blood clots normally

Therefore, it’s a good idea to choose lactose-free products with added calcium and ensure your diet contains alternative sources of calcium, such as:

  • green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage and okra
  • soya beans
  • tofu
  • nuts
  • bread and anything made with fortified flour
  • fish containing edible bones (for example, sardines, salmon, and pilchards)

You can also buy combined calcium and vitamin D supplements from most pharmacists to help maintain good bone health.

It’s important to check with your GP or dietitian whether you should be taking supplements, however, as taking excessively high levels of calcium can cause side effects.

Lactase substitutes

In addition to dietary changes, you may also find it useful to take liquid drops, tablets or capsules that contain lactase substitutes. These are available from most health foods shops.

Lactase substitutes replace the lactase your small intestine isn’t producing, which can reduce your symptoms by helping your body break down any lactose in your diet more easily.

Lactase substitutes can either be added to milk or taken just before eating a meal containing lactose.

Lactose intolerance in children

If your child is lactose intolerant, they may be able to consume small amounts of lactose without experiencing symptoms. This is quite safe, but you may need to experiment to find out how much they can comfortably eat or drink.

If your child is unable to tolerate any lactose, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian for nutritional advice because it’s important for young children to have certain nutrients in their diet to ensure healthy growth and development.

In general, the same rules about foods to try or to avoid are similar for children and adults (see above).

For babies with lactose intolerance, lactose-free formula milk is available to buy from pharmacies and supermarkets. However, soya formula isn’t recommended for children under six months because it contains hormones that may interfere with your baby’s future physical and sexual development.

Breastfed babies may benefit from lactase substitute drops to help their bodies digest the lactose in breast milk.

For many children, lactose intolerance is only temporary and will improve after a few weeks. After this point it’s safe to gradually reintroduce milk and dairy products into their diet.

90,000 EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW THIS: CAUTION ASPHYXIA AND ASPIRATION!

MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF THE ROSTOV REGION GBU RO “MEDICAL INFORMATION-ANALYTICAL CENTER”

RUN CHILDREN’S LIFE! DO NOT LEAVE THEM UNCOVERED!

(note for parents)

External causes (not related to health conditions) do not often cause death of children under one year old, but account for up to 30-35% of all causes of child mortality. The risk of sudden death in the crib is especially high in children aged 2-4 months.

Strangulation of a child often occurs when the child is in the same bed with the mother.
Accidental crushing of the child during sleep occurs when the openings of the nose and mouth are closed with a soft object. More often this is in the first months of his life, when he does not have the strength to turn his head to the side in order to breathe. As a result of the closure of the airways and the cessation of oxygen supply, the level of carbon dioxide rises and asphyxiation occurs – suffocation of the child. Parental smoking is also an additional factor contributing to the child’s inhalation of high carbon dioxide exhaust air.

Aspiration in children – the ingestion of a foreign body (milk, formula milk, food pieces, stomach contents) into the respiratory tract during inhalation is another cause of death in children under one year old. This occurs when the baby is in the wrong position during feeding and profuse regurgitation, when the baby’s head is thrown back, the swallowing process becomes difficult, and if the nasal passages are blocked by the mammary gland during feeding, the baby tries to inhale through the mouth and milk enters the respiratory tract, all this can lead to aspiration.

REMEMBER! CHILD SAFETY IS A CARE FOR ADULTS!

Recommendations for new mothers: to provide the baby with a safe environment and eliminate risk factors!

  • keep the baby at the breast for no more than 20 minutes;
  • Do not cover the nasal passages with the mother’s breast while feeding the baby;
  • breastfeed and continue breastfeeding for as long as possible, especially in the first 6 months of life, which strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of sudden death of the baby;
  • to hold the baby after feeding with a “column”, pressing it vertically to you for 2-3 minutes, which will facilitate the release of air that has got into the stomach during feeding;
  • to lay the baby on its side during the first months of life, so that in case of regurgitation, the gastric contents do not enter the respiratory tract;
  • When feeding from a bottle, make sure that the neck of the bottle and the nipple are constantly filled with the mixture and do not contain air during feeding;
  • The formula should be warm, but not cold or hot to avoid cramping.
  • Do not overfeed children;
  • Do not lay the child on his stomach to sleep until he himself begins to actively roll over;
  • not to allow the child to sleep in bed with him;
  • Do not put the child in a crib with soft blankets, feather beds and soft toys; the pillow should be flat, no more than 3 cm thick;
  • Get rid of nicotine addiction: passive inhalation of tobacco smoke leads to sudden death of the child in his sleep;
  • to prevent overheating or hypothermia of the child, which can have an adverse effect on respiratory and cardiac activity;
  • Do not practice tight swaddling, which can cause overheating of the baby and limit his physical activity;
  • provide constant optimal (23-24 gr.C) the temperature in the room for the child’s stay;
  • It is strictly forbidden to shake the newborn while playing, pumping, etc., so as not to damage the thin vessels of the brain;
  • Do not shy away from vaccination: it protects the infant from many serious problems, in the absence of medical contraindications, the child should be vaccinated.

In the event of critical situations that threaten the life of a child, seek immediate medical attention!

Lead Poisoning

General Information

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal that occurs in the earth’s crust.Its widespread use has led to widespread environmental pollution, negative human impacts and significant public health problems in many
parts of the world.

Important sources of environmental pollution are, among others, the mining, smelting of lead, its use in industrial production, recycling and, in some countries, the continued use of lead paints and
leaded aviation gasoline. Lead-acid batteries for motor vehicles account for over three quarters of global lead consumption.However, lead is also used in many other products, such as pigments,
paints, solder, stained glass, lead crystal dishes, ammunition, ceramic glaze, jewelry, toys, as well as in some cosmetics and folk medicine. Lead can be found in drinking water supplied through
lead pipes or lead-soldered pipes. Currently, most of the lead for the needs of the world economy is obtained as a result of recycling.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead, and their health can undergo profound and permanent negative changes, primarily affecting the development of the brain and nervous system. Lead also has long-term effects
in adults, including an increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage. Exposure to high lead concentrations in pregnant women can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births and low birth weight.

Sources and routes of exposure

People may be exposed to lead during work or from environmental sources. Exposure is primarily attributable to:

  • inhalation of lead particles from combustion of lead-containing materials such as smelting, recycling, removing lead paint and using leaded aviation gasoline; and 90,035
  • ingestion of lead-contaminated dust, water (from lead pipes), and food (from containers made using lead glaze or lead solder).

An additional source of exposure is the use of certain traditional medicines and traditional cosmetics. For example, high levels of lead are found in some types of eye paint, as well as in some folk medicines.
media used in countries such as India, Mexico and Vietnam. Therefore, consumers should buy and use only products in regulated circulation.

Young children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, because compared to adults, their bodies absorb 4–5 times more lead that enters the gastrointestinal tract from one source or another.Due to the inherent curiosity of children
and the urge to pull their hands into their mouths at this age, children put in and swallow items containing lead or lead, such as contaminated soil or dust and flaking lead paint. This path of influence is enhanced by
children with signs of a psychological disorder called picacism (persistent and obsessive cravings for inedible things), which can pick and eat lead paint from walls, doorframes and furniture. Exposure to contaminated lead
soil and dust from battery recycling and mining has contributed to massive lead poisoning and many young child deaths in Nigeria, Senegal and elsewhere.

When lead enters the body, it is distributed to organs such as the brain, kidneys, liver and bones. Lead is deposited in teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time. Lead deposited in bone can return to the bloodstream during pregnancy,
as a result of which the fetus is exposed to it.Malnourished children are more susceptible to lead exposure because their bodies absorb more lead when other nutrients such as calcium or iron are deficient. Most at risk
very young children (including the fetus during intrauterine development) and children living in poor families.

Health effects on children

Exposure to lead can have serious health consequences for children. At high levels of exposure, lead disrupts the functioning of the brain and central nervous system, causing coma, seizures and even death. Children who survived a difficult
lead poisoning can suffer from mental retardation and behavioral disorders. At lower exposure levels that do not cause any overt symptoms, lead causes a variety of damage to various body systems.
In particular, lead can affect children’s brain development and lead to decreased intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioral changes such as reduced attention span and increased antisocial behavior, and
also to the deterioration of the assimilation of knowledge.Lead exposure also causes anemia, hypertension, renal failure, immune toxicosis and toxic damage to the reproductive organs. The neurological and behavioral effects of lead exposure are considered
irreversible.

There is no “safe” blood lead concentration; Even as low as 5 μg / dL of lead in blood can cause intellectual decline, behavioral disorders and learning difficulties in children. As concentration rises
lead in blood increases the spectrum and severity of symptoms and consequences.

Fortunately, the cessation of the production and use of leaded gasoline in most countries, as well as other restrictive measures on the use of this metal, have led to a significant decrease in blood lead levels at the level
population. As of July 2021, leaded fuel for cars and trucks is not sold in any country 90,029 (1) 90,030. However, additional efforts are needed to eliminate the use of lead paints: today
day, legislative restrictions on the use of lead paints were introduced only in 41% of countries (2).90,030 9,0003 90,075 Burden of disease attributable to lead 90,076

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IIHME) estimates that 900,000 deaths and 21.7 million years lost were associated with long-term harmful exposure to lead worldwide in 2019 life adjusted
for disability (DALY). The burden was greatest in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, the IIHE estimated that lead exposure accounted for 62.5% of the global burden of idiopathic mental retardation in 2019.
development, 8.2% of the global burden of heart disease due to hypertension, 7.2% of the global burden of coronary heart disease and 5.65% of the global burden of stroke (3) 90,030.

WHO activities

WHO has identified lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern that requires Member States to act to protect workers, children and women of childbearing age. On its website, WHO has published
a wide range of lead information materials, including information for policymakers, technical guides and campaign materials.

WHO has now developed guidelines for the management of lead exposure and is preparing guidelines for the prevention of lead exposure that will provide policymakers, health authorities and healthcare professionals
evidence-based advice on the steps they can take to protect the health of children and adults from lead exposure.

As lead paint continues to be a source of exposure in many countries, WHO has formed the Global Lead Paint Alliance with the United Nations Environment Program. In addition, WHO is
a partner in a project funded by the Global Environment Facility to help at least 40 countries enact legislation to limit the use of lead paints (4) .Phasing out lead
paints by 2020 is one of the priority government actions included in the WHO Roadmap for Enhancing the Role of the Health Sector in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.
2020 and beyond.


(1) End of leaded fuel use a “milestone for multilateralism” press release https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1098792, 2021.
(2) Global Health Observatory: Regulations and controls on lead paint.
Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021
(3)
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Compare.
Seattle, WA: IHME, University
of Washington; 2019.
(4) SAICM GEF Project – Lead in Paint Component

How to distinguish from gaziks, symptoms, what to do and how to help when intestinal colic begins when breastfeeding

From four weeks of age, my son started crying almost every evening at the same time. Yes, it was so bitter that I wanted to cry with him.

Ksenia Petrova

doctor, mother, surviving colic

Author’s profile

Whatever my husband and I did at this time, he did not calm down. After about an hour, the crying stopped and the son was again the quietest child in the world. We thought that we were doing something wrong: it was necessary to change either my diet or the daily routine. But the pediatrician explained that it was colic, and everything would go away by itself.

Intestinal colic is diagnosed in 30% of children in the first four months of life. To save the child from suffering, parents are ready to give any money.And this is often used by charlatans, manufacturers of biological additives and infant formula.

What is intestinal colic in newborns

Intestinal colic is a cramping pain in the abdomen. During an attack, the child is restless and crying. At the same time, the rest of the time he is calm and looks healthy.

The term “colic” was coined by the American pediatrician Morris Wessel. He noticed that some healthy children cried more than others. The pediatrician decided to call this phenomenon colic.There was no talk of any illness.

When colic begins. After natural childbirth, colic in babies can begin as early as three weeks. They occur during feeding or 20-30 minutes after it. With a caesarean section, colic may start a week earlier. Pediatricians suggest that this is due to a lack of microorganisms in the child’s gastrointestinal tract. During natural childbirth, they enter the baby’s body from the birth canal of the mother, but with a cesarean section, this does not happen.

How long. In total, colic lasts up to three hours a day. Some parents think that the baby is crying all the time. Therefore, pediatricians recommend keeping a diary of the time of each crying episode. In it, mark the beginning, the end of crying, and the reason. At the end of the day, count how much the child cried in total and separately how much he cried for an unknown reason.

Diary of a crying baby

Total

13 minutes

Reason

Dirty diaper

Total

43 minutes

Reason

Fright

Total

22 minutes

Reason

Hunger

Reason

Dirty diaper

Total

26 minutes

Reason

Cause unknown

Total

24 minutes

Reason

Other Known Cause

Total

20 minutes

Reason

Hunger

Total

155 minutes

Crying for an unknown reason

26 minutes

Sometimes the baby seems to be crying all the time.A diary will help you calculate how many minutes crying lasts a day and what is the reason for it. Download a copy of this sign and fill it out online or in hard copy.

When they pass. Pediatricians have a “rule of three”: causeless crying in children begins at three weeks of life, lasts about three hours a day, at least three days a week, and ends by three months.

Rome IV: Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children PDF, 828 KB

Since 2016, it has been estimated that colic can last up to five months.After that, the child begins to cry less often. If, after five months, the crying time has not decreased, you need to contact your pediatrician.

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Causes of colic

The exact cause of infant colic has not been established.

The causes of colic in bottle-fed babies and breast-fed babies are the same.They do not depend on gender and skin color, whether the baby is full-term or not. And they are found not only in children, but also in the young of other mammals. Puppies, for example, can take a curved back and tucked-in position and whine even if their mother is nearby.

Which children are more likely to have colic, article in UpToDate

Natural dog health remedies: colic symptoms in puppies

Scientists suggest that colic occurs for several reasons.

Immaturity of the nervous system. Up to three months, nerve impulses can enter the digestive system chaotically. As a result, muscles in the walls of the stomach and intestines sometimes contract incorrectly. It’s like pedaling a bicycle with one foot forward and the other backward. Due to the dissociated work of the intestines, painful spasms occur.

Development of the digestive system, article in Pubmed

From three to five months, the supply of nerve impulses is getting better, the muscles begin to work synchronously, and the spasms become less.

Lack of enzymes. Food cannot be digested without special proteins – enzymes. They break down food into simpler parts. During the first months of life, the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine produce few enzymes. Therefore, their amount is not always enough to digest food. Poorly digested food travels to the large intestine, where it is processed by bacteria. The fermentation process begins. Gas is formed, and the more, the more it presses on the intestines from the inside.Gas formation leads to discomfort and pain. When the gases go away, the child feels better.

Children are empaths, they reflect the inner state of others, even if they try to hide it. For example, if the mother is often sad, the child will become anxious. Older children are able to express feelings in different ways, and babies, experiencing negative emotions, cry.

At the same time, the frequency of colic has nothing to do with parenting experience. The fifth child in the family may have colic, even if the previous four children did not have it, and the parents are sure that they know all the secrets of preventing colic.

Migraine. Infant colic is considered a reaction to pain. The source of pain can be not only the stomach, but also the head. In 2013, it was found that children diagnosed with migraines were more likely to suffer from colic in infancy. And in 2014, researchers concluded that colic may be an early manifestation of migraine. There is also speculation about the feedback: children who have colic are more likely to have migraines in the future.

Childhood Migraine and Colic Relationship, article in Jama

Maternal smoking and nicotine replacement therapy. A large study has confirmed the relationship between maternal smoking and colic in children. This includes both the mother’s smoking during pregnancy and the inhalation of tobacco smoke by the child. Nicotine interferes with the passage of nerve impulses to the intestine, causes inflammation of the intestinal mucosa and reduces blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, colic occurs.

Pediatrics: How Maternal Smoking Increases Risk of Infant Colic

Allergy to cow’s milk proteins. Cow’s milk protein can enter the baby’s body directly from formula or through breast milk from the mother. In the blood, protein reacts with antibodies. As a result of this reaction, substances are formed that can damage intestinal cells. In it, inflammation begins, which becomes a source of pain.
In a European study, 12,050 children with colic were screened for cow’s milk protein allergy. Among them were formula-fed and breast-fed children. Allergy was confirmed in 1% of children.

Another study found that only 1.7% of mothers had enough cow’s milk protein in their breast milk to cause allergies. This means that even if the baby has allergies, in most cases the mother can continue to drink cow’s milk.

Allergies to cow’s milk proteins are easily missed or confused with another disease. Most often, with allergies in a child, blood appears in the stool, visible to the naked eye. Symptoms that are less common:

  1. excessively bright colic; attacks of violent, inconsolable and prolonged crying;
  2. delay in weight gain;
  3. cry in the middle of feeding with early abandonment of sucking and malnutrition;
  4. Skin rash: If it appears, take the child to the pediatrician.

Diagnosis and treatment of protein allergy in children, a practical guide PDF, 383 KB

Symptoms of colic in children

Colic appears to be part of a child’s normal development. Outside the seizure, the baby looks healthy and happy. Therefore, the following symptoms appear only during colic.

Relief may occur after the child poops. At the same time, gases come out and spasms associated with improper coordination of the intestines stop.Sometimes colic can end just after the baby farted.

What colic looks like in a newborn: the baby is screaming, the lips and skin around the mouth are pale, the arms are clenched into fists, the legs are brought to the stomach. Source: Luck Club

Colic can occur in the form of contractions: the child cries, then calms down for a few minutes and starts screaming again. And so in a circle.

Less than 5% of children have colic due to illness. Then the child develops other alarming symptoms:

  1. temperature is above 38 ° C;
  2. diarrhea more than 8-10 times a day;
  3. the child does not poop for three days or more;
  4. Blood in stool: streaks of blood, jelly-like impurities of red or crimson color, black loose stools;
  5. Increased regurgitation and vomiting;
  6. breathing rate less than 40 breaths per minute, wheezing and whistling can be heard during inhalation, cyanosis appears around the mouth;
  7. any skin rash;
  8. The child is less active than usual, eats less;
  9. You cannot calm a child for more than three hours, no matter what you do.

If any of these symptoms appear in a child, an urgent need to contact a pediatrician.

First aid for a child with colic

You can try one of the ways to calm your child down for a few minutes. If there is no effect, go to the next:

  1. Offer him a pacifier.
  2. Flip onto tummy.
  3. Take a ride in a stroller or car.
  4. Carry your baby in your arms, in a sling or similar.
  5. Swing while standing in a rocking chair, sitting on a fitball.
  6. Change location, shade the room.
  7. Swing on the baby swing.
  8. Take a warm bath.
  9. Pat your tummy.
  10. Enable heartbeat audio recording.
  11. Turn on white noise.
  12. Sing a lullaby or talk to your baby.
  13. Loose swaddle.

How to deal with colic, an article in KidsHealth

Pathways.org: how to properly lay the baby on the tummy and how it is useful

The child does not have to be rocked in the arms or in the stroller, you can do that.Photo: Ekaterina Yusupova Stroke the baby’s belly clockwise, without effort. Photo: Ekaterina Yusupova
With a loose swaddling, the baby’s legs can move freely

With a loose swaddling, the baby’s legs can move freely

If all else fails, you can put the baby in a gas tube. You can buy it at the pharmacy, specify what it is for an infant. It is worth using this method when other methods do not work, and the child’s stomach is still swollen and tense.

Lubricate the venting tube or enema tip with Vaseline or other oil and gently insert it in a circular forward motion to a depth of three centimeters.You will hear when the gases start to come out. At the same time, the child may start to poop. Your baby will calm down shortly after having a bowel movement.

Eventually, you will find a method that works for your child. But be prepared that it will not always work.

How everything was with us

My son’s colic began from the fourth week and was almost every day, always in the evenings, at the same time. At first, it helped to swing in a chair under a movie. It worked for a week.On New Year’s Eve, the garlands on the Christmas tree went well, another week.

There was a period when nothing helped. My husband and I took turns waiting this time in the evenings with a baby in our arms. Periodically helped by a sling. Then I randomly found one song – Alexey Kosenko, Rain with Me Original Mix – where the piano was playing and there were sounds of rain. She turned it on to repeat and rocked the child while standing in this rhythm. It helped for two whole weeks. The song still sometimes sounds in my head.

If the child does not stop crying:

  1. Call a loved one who can support you or sit with your child.During this time, you can rest. Children are excellent at reading emotions – if you rest and calm down, then the child can stop crying.
  2. If all else fails, put the baby on his back in the crib without blankets or stuffed animals, go out and close the door. Do something that will help you relax and calm down for 10 minutes. For example, take a shower, have a snack, read, or listen to music. After that, return to the baby and try to calm him down again.

Don’t blame yourself or your baby for crying.Find a way for yourself to relax and know that the child will outgrow this period.

How to help a newborn with colic

There is little good quality research on the treatment of colic. Those that do exist say that most methods are not more effective than placebo. For the criterion of the effectiveness of the method, scientists usually take the time by which the crying of the child is reduced. It is believed that if a method of treatment reduces crying time by less than 30 minutes per day, then it is ineffective.

Among the effective methods are only probiotics with Lactobacillus Reuteri and diet.The rest of the methods reduced the crying time by less than 30 minutes. Source: Pubmed

Among the effective methods are only probiotics with Lactobacillus Reuteri and diet. The rest of the methods reduced the crying time by less than 30 minutes. Source: Pubmed

Power supply correction. The method helps children who have colic due to allergies. In this case, the doctor excludes allergenic foods from the mother’s diet. A bottle-fed baby can be transferred to a deep hydrolyzate. A baby with an allergy to cow’s milk protein cannot break down this protein.Therefore, in hydrolyzed formulas, the milk protein is already broken down. Such an experiment lasts a week, in the absence of an effect, the previous diet returns. The effectiveness of the diet for the treatment of colic in children in a situation where the child does not have allergies has not been proven.

But it’s not that simple:

  1. It is not known how many microbes each person should have.
  2. Research is carried out with different types of microorganisms. Each type can have its own effect. Therefore, the results cannot be generalized to all probiotics.
  3. Little safety data for probiotics. Only 2% of studies state the product is safe.
  4. Many studies on probiotics are sponsored by infant formula manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. This raises doubts about the objectivity of the results obtained.

In 2017, the efficacy and safety of a probiotic containing Lactobacillus Reuteri, strain DSM 17938 was proven. In breastfed babies, it reduces the duration of crying by an average of 50 minutes per day.On other criteria, this probiotic is no more effective than a placebo. Therefore, you can use the drug only as directed by your doctor. The probiotic is prescribed within a month to evaluate its effectiveness. If the effect is positive, the doctor may extend its admission for another three months.
800 R

average price of BioGaya and Rela Life probiotics containing Lactobacillus Reuteri. You will need at least two bottles per month

Research on the effectiveness of the probiotic with Lactobacillus reuteri in formula-fed children is just beginning.

Hydrolyzed formula for formula-fed babies. Research shows that hydrolyzed protein formulas reduce the duration of crying during the day. They switch to a new mixture gradually: it is added to the usual one within four days. This is continued until only a hydrolyzed mixture is obtained.

If the new formula helps relieve colic symptoms, continue to use it for up to three to six months. Then you can resume taking the usual mixture.This method can reduce crying by 37 minutes a day. But it can only be used as directed by a doctor. Improper selection of a new mixture can worsen colic or cause allergies.

Infant Colic: How to Recognize and Treat, American Academy of Family Physicians article

Work with parent alarm. This method does not in any way reduce the duration of colic, but in 90% of cases, doctors recommend starting with it. If the words of the pediatrician do not help to cope with anxiety, then you can turn to a psychologist.

How to deal with anxiety

Veronika Khlebnikova

existential psychologist, blogger and mother of three children

To calm a child down, you must first of all deal with your anxiety. I often talk to parents who are not sure if they are doing the right thing with their child. They think they are not up to the task. At such moments, you need to understand where your anxiety comes from. Then it will be easier for you to get rid of it.

What does not help with colic

Transfer from breastfeeding to artificial feeding. No treatment algorithm recommends eliminating or reducing breastfeeding. This leads to a rapid disappearance of milk, increases the tension in the intestines of the child and weakens his immune system.

120,000 R

amount per year that artificial feeding can cost

The duration of crying in babies may be reduced when switching from breastfeeding to formula feeding. But this is because breast milk is absorbed faster.As a result, the baby is more likely to feel hunger and more often to receive new portions of milk – it seems that while sucking, he screams more often. And after switching to the mixture, he sleeps longer, which gives the impression that he is feeling better.

Colic is three to five months and breastfeeding should continue for longer. The decision to cancel it must be taken very carefully.

Acid-suppressive therapy. Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole are ineffective in treating colic infants.They are no more effective than placebos.

Painkillers. Evidence for the efficacy of pain relievers for childhood colic is sparse and biased. Their use is not recommended without a doctor’s prescription.

Homeopathic remedies. They are used in very small doses, their mechanism of action is not clear, and their effectiveness has not been proven. They are not recommended for the treatment of colic in children.

Use of homeotic remedies for childhood colicPDF, 260 KB

Supplementation with water. Breast milk is more than 80% water. It is enough to quench a baby’s thirst up to four to six months, even in the heat. Supplementing infants with water puts them at risk of diarrhea and malnutrition. It can also cause the baby to breastfeed less well, less milk is produced there, and breastfeeding stops too early.

WHO: why is it harmful to add water to infants

Phytotherapy. Little research has been done on the effectiveness of various herbs.Chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm, licorice, and dill water are reportedly no more effective than placebo. Some herbs can be harmful to the baby and cause allergies. For example, large amounts of fennel can induce vomiting and impair baby’s muscle function. This is the same plant, from the essential oil of which “dill water” is made.

Simethicone. This is a synthetic substance that reduces bloating. It is part of, for example, “Bobotika”, “Espumizan baby”, “Sub Simplex”.Simethicone is not absorbed, it acts only in the intestinal lumen on gas bubbles, which is why they disintegrate. No research has proven that the use of simethicone is effective in treating colic in children.

390 R

Average price for a bottle of the product with simethicone

Simethicone may be helpful if colic is mainly due to flatulence. You can only find out by trying. If after a week of taking you have not noticed any difference in the frequency and intensity of colic attacks, it is pointless to continue using it.

Tea for lactation. Hot drinking is generally not prohibited. It promotes the release of oxytocin, relaxes and soothes. And it is easier for a calm mother to cope with a crying baby. But herbal tea can be harmful to both mom and baby. For example, fennel, lemon balm and sage reduce lactation. Carefully read the composition and recommendations for the amount of tea, so as not to overdo it.

E-Lactanciya: compatibility of medicines and herbs with breastfeeding

Chiropractic, osteopathy. These are methods of alternative medicine, during which physical manipulations are used, such as stretching and massage. Studies have shown that chiropractic care and osteopathy are ineffective in treating colic. The safety of these methods for children has not yet been proven.

Manipulative techniques for the treatment of childhood colic, article in Pubmed

Acupuncture, or acupuncture. Proponents of the method insert fine needles into the skin at specific points. They believe that the impact on these points restores vital energy, and this leaves the pain.Acupuncture is useless and not recommended for colic. The safety of this method has also not been proven.

Review of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for childhood colic, article in Pubmed

Prevention of colic

There is no prophylactic method that would prevent colic. But correct feeding will help to facilitate their course and reduce the duration.

Keep your baby on his tummy for as long as possible before each feed. Start with two to five minutes, gradually increasing the time.By the age of three months, the baby can lie on his stomach for about an hour a day.

After each feed, carry your baby upright for 5-15 minutes to regurgitate any trapped air. If breastfeeding at night, place your baby so that his head is raised.

If the baby is bottle-fed, try anti-colic nipples and bottles. Inside these bottles there is a valve that equalizes the pressure.

500 R

average price for an anti-colic bottle

Colic is optional, 70% of children do not.If, even before childbirth, the family is tuned into the fact that even if colic makes itself felt, they will stop sooner or later, then the first months of parenting are more likely to be calmer.

A pillow or free hand can be used to lift the baby’s head. The baby must grasp not only the nipple, but the areola. Even in a horizontal position, the nipple is always full of milk. Air does not enter it. Source: philips.ru

Remember

  1. Infant colic is not for everyone.
  2. Colic is part of the normal development of a child.
  3. The exact reason for their appearance is not known.
  4. Treatment for colic begins with addressing parental anxiety.
  5. Most of the time, treatment for colic costs nothing – most treatments have not been proven to be effective.
  6. Colic ends in all babies by a maximum of five months. You just have to go through it.

Gaziki in a newborn: how to help and what to do

    Contents:

  1. Causes of flatulence in children
  2. Flatulence: symptoms in children
  3. Treatment of flatulence in children

Bloating in a newborn baby can be a real problem for the whole family – it is the cause of anxiety and crying of the baby, stress and lack of sleep for parents.Why does flatulence occur in newborns, how to help them and how to avoid this trouble in the future?

Causes of flatulence in children

Intestinal flatulence in children occurs due to the accumulation of gases, the discharge of which is difficult, accompanied by rumbling, pain. Why does bloating occur? Gases in a newborn are frequent companions of the most complex processes of adaptation of the body to life outside the womb.

Flatulence in an infant occurs when the intestines are full of foamy masses.This substance expands the intestines from the inside, obscures its walls and fills the intestinal lumen, preventing the absorption of food and disrupting the digestive process. All this causes pain and discomfort in the abdomen, which hardens and swells. At the same time, the baby becomes restless, begins to jerk his legs sharply, trying to press them to him. Bloating in newborns can appear in the first month of life and continue to torment them for up to three to four months. The reasons may vary.

  • Food that does not correspond to the age and maturity of the child’s gastrointestinal tract can cause flatulence – changes in the milk formula, overfeeding, premature introduction of complementary foods, unbalanced nutrition;

  • However, often the causes of bloating in newborns lie not in the food they eat, but in the fact that gases enter the intestines due to screaming, crying, improper feeding, in which air is swallowed along with milk or formula.

  • Another important cause of bloating is the child’s overexcitation, restless behavior, and his unstable emotional state for any reason.

  • It should be borne in mind that for a breastfed baby, it is very important what his mother eats, since the use of certain foods can cause flatulence in a 1 year old baby, not to mention newborns. Products such as fresh fruits, juices, legumes (peas, beans), white cabbage, walnuts, condensed milk, black bread, kvass, baked goods often cause flatulence in children.

  • It has been noticed that premature babies suffer from flatulence more often, which is due to the immaturity of their digestive system, which has not yet finished forming: the stomach of the newborn is located slightly higher and more horizontally than in adults, the muscles of the walls of the stomach and intestines are less developed, which makes it difficult for food to move.

  • Flatulence in a newborn can also occur due to lactase deficiency, dysbiosis, allergy to cow’s milk proteins.

Flatulence: symptoms in children

Flatulence is manifested in a month-old baby in the form of belching, gas discharge, loud crying due to pain. As a rule, the child begins to cry sharply and pull his legs to the breast literally a few minutes after feeding. Most often, these attacks occur in the late afternoon, sometimes even at the same time. The child’s belly swells up, looks rounder outwardly, but feels firm to the touch.

Treatment of flatulence in children

Various treatments are available to help relieve bloating in newborns.

There are a number of medicinal preparations based on herbal decoctions (cumin, fennel, dill, coriander), designed to help get rid of gases in one way or another, as well as carminative agents, antispasmodics to relieve intestinal spasm, drugs that activate intestinal motility, drugs against dysbiosis with content of lacto- and bifidobacteria. In order to decide on drug treatment, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

In order to somehow alleviate flatulence, treatment in newborns, you can also try using alternative methods:

  • Warm the baby’s tummy: by placing a hot hand on the bare belly, or placing the baby on your belly, or covering his tummy with a warm diaper or heating pad;

  • Massage the abdomen with circular strokes around the navel, pressing lightly;

  • to do gymnastics – the child’s legs bent at the knees are pressed alternately to his stomach and straightened again;

  • Arrange a warm bath for the child with a decoction of chamomile and string;

  • Try a tight swaddle of the abdomen.

You can also use a rectal catheter, which is a thin vent tube. It is gently inserted into the child’s anus, which has been pre-lubricated with cream, by 1–2 cm.

There are also general guidelines that will help newborns to pass gas more easily.

  • It is advisable to lay the baby on his stomach for 5 minutes before each feeding. This can be done at any other time during the day – this is how the abdomen is massaged, the abdominal muscles are trained.

  • Clockwise abdominal strokes should also become a regular ritual.

  • After each feed, hold your baby upright for 10-15 minutes until he regurgitates and the food reaches the stomach.

  • Avoid tight swaddling in everyday life to allow your baby to move freely.

  • Place your baby on your breast correctly so that air does not enter with food.When breastfeeding, watch your diet. The general rule is that foods that cause bloating and soft stools in the mother provoke flatulence in the baby.

  • When bottle feeding, try to immediately select a formula containing prebiotics so as not to injure the infant’s immature gastrointestinal tract with frequent changes of formula.

Read us on Yandex Zen

90,000 Watermelon, yogurt and coffee. What foods should be excluded to get rid of a big belly

Watermelon, yogurt and coffee. What foods need to be excluded to get rid of a big belly

Every adult has at least once faced such a problem as bloating. The most common cause of flatulence is an improper diet. Indeed, some foods cause active fermentation in the intestines, which leads to increased gas formation.

Cheltv.ru found out what food should be excluded from the menu if you are worried about such a nuisance as bloating.

Starchy foods

Everyone’s favorite rolls, white bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and legumes.At first glance, beans, peas, lentils, and soybeans are rich in fiber and protein. These are very useful components of a healthy diet, but these are the foods that are difficult to digest.

Many people from childhood do not like pea porridge, which leaves after an unpleasant sensation. The fact is that legumes are filled with fiber, which our bodies cannot absorb. To avoid bloating after such foods, you can soak dried beans overnight to help break down indigestible fiber.

Small amounts of fiber are required by the gastrointestinal tract to function properly. However, if your diet consists only of raw vegetables, fruits and berries, it will be difficult for the coarse fibers to pass through the intestines.

Watermelon, yoghurt and coffee. What foods need to be excluded to get rid of a big belly

Dairy products

Recently, supporters of proper nutrition have divided into two camps. Some actively use dairy products, others have completely excluded them from their diet.This is due to lactose intolerance.

This natural sugar is found in many dairy products. If you have lactose intolerance, your belly will definitely swell up. Because the body will not have the enzymes needed to break down sugar.

Strong flatulence can be caused by milk, sour cream, kefir and fermented baked milk. If you cannot imagine your life without these products, try using grainy cottage cheese. It is not recommended to combine milk with cereals and pastries in one meal. Your stomach may not be able to handle this strain.

Fortunately, there are many dairy substitutes available, such as soy milk or almond milk. They are ideal for those who are lactose intolerant or want to eliminate dairy from their diet altogether.

Watermelon, yoghurt and coffee. What foods should be excluded to get rid of a big belly

Watermelon, yogurt and coffee. What foods need to be excluded to get rid of a big belly

Watermelon

Everyone’s favorite watermelon contains fructose and natural sugar, which our body absorbs with difficulty.It’s hard to believe, but watermelon can do harm. The reason for this is fructose, which gives the product a sweet taste. Unfortunately, many people are unable to metabolize fructose, so eating a lot of watermelon can lead to bloating.

Yoghurts

Yoghurt with a very high sugar content can ferment snakes. However, it all depends on what kind you use. Plain diet yogurt can really help your stomach because it contains probiotics.

If you like high sugar flavored yoghurts, expect gas and bloating. This also includes carbonated drinks.

Watermelon, yoghurt and coffee. What foods need to be excluded to get rid of a big belly

Fatty meat

If you eat fatty meat, fish and strong broths in large quantities, then bloating will not keep you waiting. Foods with a high sodium content: canned soups, deli meats, and prepared sauces make the body retain a lot of water.Eating a lot of salt retains water in the body and bloats the stomach.

Generally, most healthy people should limit their sodium intake to 2300 mg per day. People who have diabetes and high blood pressure should consume a maximum of 1500 mg per day. The same rule applies to people over 50 years old.

Vegetables

All types of cabbage cause bloating and gas. However, they are high in nutrients such as folate, vitamin C, and fiber.

Unfortunately, such healthy products contain raffinose. This is a type of carbohydrate that our body cannot break down, it just lacks a certain enzyme. If you don’t want to skip these vegetables, try sautéing or steaming them for easier digestion.

Porridge

We hasten to disappoint the lovers of milk porridge. Many grains contain a specific carbohydrate called fructan, which is difficult for the body to absorb. According to many gastroenterologists, people often think that gluten irritates their stomach, but this is not the case.The fact is that fructan is not absorbed, but fermented by intestinal bacteria. This leads to gas and bloating.

Onions

Surprisingly, onions contain the same carbohydrate as grains. Fructan is not only difficult for the body to absorb, but also leads to the accumulation of more water in the intestines. This, in turn, can cause bloating.

Watermelon, yoghurt and coffee. What foods to cut to get rid of a big belly

Lollipops and gum

People gravitate towards artificial sweeteners because they do not contain calories.Many people believe that they are much healthier than sugar, but this is not the case. After all, the assimilation of this supplement takes place over a long time, this leads to bloating. Sugar-free gum contains the same ingredients as artificial sweeteners, making it just as difficult to digest. Plus, the act of using gum is not very good for your stomach because you are swallowing excess air.

Popcorn

If you are used to watching movies while eating popcorn, then you are guaranteed bloating.Especially if you consume it in large quantities. After all, your stomach will expand more than usual. A normal serving of popcorn is anywhere from three to four coffee cups.

Apples

Apples contain three substances that contribute to gas and bloating: fiber, fructose and sorbitol. It is not recommended to use them with other fruits.

Sorbitol is often used as an artificial sweetener in foods that many people cannot tolerate.Other fruits that contain sorbitol are peaches, pears, and plums.

Watermelon, yoghurt and coffee. What foods should be eliminated to get rid of a big belly

Coffee

Coffee lovers should think about the number of cups they drink per day. Sour coffee can definitely irritate your stomach. Although this drink is diuretic, it causes swelling and irritation of the stomach.

And if you are lactose intolerant or hypersensitive, adding milk to coffee will only make the situation worse.

Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks also dehydrate your body and cause your body to retain more water than it needs. This leads to swelling, constipation and bloating.

Experts also recommend reducing the amount of seasoning when cooking, not talking while eating, reducing the number of servings, but eating more often.

It is important to remember that in case of persistent bloating, you need to see a doctor. After all, it can also be a sign of chronic gastritis.

How to attract wealth into your home. Superstitions and omens as of July 29

Who benefits from goat milk? – RU.DELFI

Allergic reactions to cow’s milk proteins in humans

Such people are forced to completely abandon the use of dairy products, which are so necessary for the human body to function properly.Goat milk protein does not cause such allergic reactions and can be used by this category of people. Moreover, goat milk has a beneficial effect on the human body. With its regular daily use for at least two months, a person often completely disappears any allergic reactions to cow’s milk protein.

Recovery of the body after various stresses and increased physical exertion

As mentioned above, the fat globules in goat milk are significantly smaller than in fat globules in cow’s milk.It is thanks to this fact that the assimilation of goat’s milk is much easier and faster than cow’s milk. This fact is very important for those people whose body is weakened due to various factors. And also in goat milk there is a high amount of potassium, which is simply necessary for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system of a weakened human body.

Children’s rickets, as well as recovery after bone fractures of varying complexity

As you know, goat’s milk contains a huge amount of calcium and vitamin D, which greatly strengthens bone tissue.That is why doctors often recommend goat milk to children after a year for the prevention and treatment of rickets. And besides, goat’s milk is extremely useful for people who have suffered a bone fracture. As shown by numerous studies of surgeons – traumatologists, daily use of one glass of goat’s milk halves the time of bone healing and complete restoration.

Goat milk for pregnant women

For a pregnant woman, the use of goat milk brings simply invaluable benefits, as it is a real storehouse of a variety of nutrients and microorganisms, as well as minerals.Calcium, contained in large quantities in goat milk, not only provides the baby with everything necessary for the formation of the skeletal system, but also protects mother’s teeth from decay, and nails from delamination.

Goat milk during breastfeeding

A nursing mother who uses goat milk also fully meets the need for trace elements and vitamins not only for children, but also for her body. Thus, a nursing mother relieves herself of a huge number of various problems, ranging from vitamin deficiencies to banal hair loss.Goat milk for a nursing mother replaces the intake of multivitamin complexes.

People seeking to lose weight

Despite the fact that goat’s milk contains a fairly large amount of fat, it is not converted into adipose tissue in the human body. And the huge content in goat milk of various micro and macro elements, vitamins and minerals will help prevent the onset of vitamin deficiencies and other complications from the body, which is deprived of normal nutrition, while following a diet.

The presence of intestinal dysbiosis in a person

If a child or an adult is faced with such a nuisance as a disturbance in the normal balance of intestinal microflora, fermented milk products and cheese made from goat’s milk will very quickly help bring the intestines back to normal. Be sure to include kefirs, yoghurts, or at least just fermented goat milk in the diet of sick people. As a rule, in order to achieve the desired result, it is necessary to drink fermented milk products from goat’s milk at the rate of 100 grams for every 10 kilograms of human weight.

The course of treatment should be as follows: you need to consume fermented milk products for three days, then take a two-day break. Then the reception should be five days – and one day off. After that, the reception should already be within one week, after which it is necessary to pass tests for dysbiosis. If necessary, and it occurs extremely rarely, the course of treatment must be repeated. Although, as a rule, a noticeable improvement in the condition of a sick person occurs already on the third day of consuming fermented milk products prepared on the basis of goat’s milk.

Goat’s milk cottage cheese is also extremely useful for dysbacteriosis. It is prepared in the same way as cottage cheese from cow’s milk. You can also buy it ready-made, both in stores and in markets.

Whether a person has chronic gastritis with increased acidity of gastric juice, or a stomach or duodenal ulcer

Goat’s milk is extremely useful for gastritis. Goat milk, among other advantages, has an amazing and unique ability to instantly neutralize hydrochloric acid, which is contained in the gastric juice.And at the same time, during neutralization, there are no violent chemical reactions that cause bloating, heartburn or belching. In addition, goat milk contains lysozyme. This substance has a high ability to heal wounds on the mucous membranes.

If you suffer from stomach ulcers or gastritis, the following goat milk treatment will help. Every morning, on an empty stomach, you need to drink a glass of raw milk. Then, during the day, you need to drink two more glasses of goat’s milk in small sips.The course of treatment should be approximately 21 days.

Goat’s milk with diathesis

Many babies and their parents are faced with a problem such as diathesis or atopic dermatitis. Parents faced with a similar problem know how many unpleasant moments this disease brings to the baby, as well as how difficult it is to be treated. Pediatricians have found that children who eat goat’s milk are much less likely to suffer from diathesis. And goat milk, used by a child during treatment, significantly accelerates the recovery of the baby.Goat milk for allergies is a fairly strong antihistamine. But allergy to goat milk is extremely and extremely rare.

Parents immediately have a question about how to give their child goat milk. Someone thinks that it needs to be boiled, while others prefer to give it raw, believing that boiled milk loses its beneficial properties to a large extent. Doctors advise doing the following: children under two years old still need to boil milk, but older children are much more advisable to give it raw.

Goat milk for pancreatitis

The benefits of goat milk for patients with pancreatitis have been hotly debated for a long time. Some doctors argue that in this case, goat’s milk is absolutely useless, while other nutritionists say that it greatly facilitates the course of the disease. In any case, the use of goat’s milk can bring no harm, so it is worth trying. For the treatment of pancreatitis, goat milk should be taken half a glass before each meal for two months.

Goat milk for diabetes

In folk medicine, goat milk is often used to alleviate the condition of a person suffering from a disease such as diabetes. For this, traditional medicine suggests that the patient drink a glass of goat’s milk every two hours during the day. However, in no case should you stop taking insulin and other medications that are prescribed by your doctor – goat milk, with all its healing properties, cannot replace them.

Goat’s milk for cancer

It is believed that goat’s milk for cancer helps very effectively. However, it is rather difficult to judge how effective such treatment is in fact, and it is hardly possible objectively – after all, a sick person using goat’s milk, for sure, in most cases, receives alternative treatment to traditional medicine. Of course, goat milk cannot be replaced by traditional treatment.

However, doctors have definitely established that the use of goat’s milk while a sick person is undergoing chemotherapy significantly reduces the manifestation of side effects of chemotherapy.And, in addition, it greatly strengthens the state of the immune system. For this, traditional medicine offers the following recipe.

For its preparation you will need 100 grams of any natural honey, one sprig of aloe and 500 grams of fresh raw goat milk. In a water bath, melt the honey and bring it to a boil, then add carefully chopped tree-like aloe and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Then add the mixture to the goat’s milk, mix thoroughly and refrigerate.Let the milk sit for at least 6 hours, then give the patient 50 grams every hour for every 10 kilograms of weight. Treatment should start one week before the expected start date of chemotherapy and end at least one week after chemotherapy ends.

Before using this product, be sure to consult with the attending physician of a sick person. And, in addition, before taking this remedy, it is imperative to find out if the sick person has had any allergic reactions to any of the components before.If a sick person has not eaten any of them before, the drug must be taken very carefully, in small portions.

When to transfer a child from formula to milk

Milk is one of the main foods in the life of babies. It is an excellent and fairly affordable source of protein, calcium, as well as vitamins D and A, which are very important not only for the growth of a child, but also for strengthening his bones for years to come. However, like all good things, over-feeding your baby can cause trouble.In addition, some children may have milk allergies or problems with digestion.

Dairy

Here are some tips on how to allocate milk to the right place in your baby’s menu.

  • Babies under one year old should never be given regular cow’s milk.

    If you are not breastfeeding, switch to infant formula. They break the milk molecules into smaller pieces that are easier to digest. Untreated cow’s milk can cause a reaction in your baby’s gut, which leads to constant inflammation of the intestinal walls and dysfunction.(After a year, the baby will be able to digest milk easier and safer). In addition, there is evidence that the consumption of milk by children at an early age is associated with allergies that arise later.

  • You need to know when to stop in everything.

    Some children drink so much milk that they do not want to eat more nutritious foods. The child may continue to gain weight and grow, but the diet will be unbalanced. Children from one to three years old need 450 to 600 ml of milk and dairy products per day.(2-3 medium glasses). However, milk is low in iron, fiber, zinc and other nutrients for your baby’s development.

  • Not all babies can tolerate milk.

    A true milk allergy – when the body perceives it as a foreign object and forms antibodies to fight it – can be very serious. If a child has this type of allergy, even a small amount of milk will cause reactions such as vomiting, diarrhea, itching of the face, mouth or whole body, swelling of the lips and eyes, wheezing or shortness of breath after a few minutes.Fortunately, such severe reactions are rare, but if a child has been diagnosed with such an allergy, nothing should be given that contains milk. Parents of such children should carefully read the composition of the products before giving them to their child. Children often outgrow this allergy, but if it first appears in toddlers over the age of three, it is likely that it will remain for life.

  • Lactose intolerance is more common than milk allergy.

    Lactose, a type of sugar found in milk, cannot be digested by many people. The degree of bloating, gas, and abdominal pain associated with lactose intolerance depends on the amount of milk you drink. Many children with this problem cannot digest pure milk, but can consume foods such as yogurt and cheese. At the same time, it will be better to switch to products that do not contain lactose for a while. If your child has persistent lactose intolerance, your pediatrician will help you choose a milk replacement.

  • Not all babies love milk.

    If the child refuses to drink milk and does not have digestive problems or allergies, try giving the milk the taste of chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, or whatever flavor the child likes. If the baby does not want or cannot drink milk, replace it with other foods containing calcium, such as cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, kefir. If you have doubts about whether your child is absorbing calcium well, contact your pediatrician.

If you do not want to give your baby milk, make sure that the replacement drink contains vitamins A and D. Some cases of rickets – a disease caused by a lack of calcium and nowadays rare due to the addition of vitamins to milk – have been recorded again as children replace milk with less healthy drinks. Check with your pediatrician to ensure you are choosing the right product.

Which milk is better?

Until recently, pediatricians recommended that children from one to two years consume whole milk, and then switch to skim milk.These recommendations were based on the assumption that fat, which is essential for brain and nervous system development in the second year of life, was not found in sufficient quantities in skim milk.

However, recent studies by scientists from the Scandinavian countries have confirmed that there is no difference in the growth and development of the nervous system of children under the age of five who consumed whole milk and skim milk.

The choice of milk that you can give your baby also depends on other factors, such as whether your family has a history of high cholesterol and heart attacks, or whether your baby has problems with being overweight.Talk to your pediatrician who can help you choose the best option for you.